Intercooler reservoir empty...

[davbrucas]

Driving to play golf today I smelled coolant from my car but it wasnt overheating. Get to where I was going I popped the hood and noticed that the IC reservoir is empty. I had a belt come apart 2wks ago and it may have put a hole in one of the hoses. I know for a fact that the reservoir was full yesterday as I washed the car and the engine compartment and there was coolant in it. Cant figure out how it all drained today. :shrug: Anyway, will it cause any damage driving without fluid in there? I know that it will be a pig under boost.

 

[JB]

.... Anyway, will it cause any damage driving without fluid in there? I know that it will be a pig under boost.

I wouldn't boost at all without a properly-functioning intercooler system

normal driving should be safe as long as you disable pump (connector, fuse or relay), otherwise you'll burn it up by running dry

.

 

[davbrucas]

Which fuse? Thanks.

 

[ShelbyGuy]

the pump could very well have burned up anyway. dead pump causes the intercooler water to boil over and vent out the cap.

i'd still bet on a cut hose, though.

the intercooler pump relay is by the passenger side shock tower.

 

[HISSMAN]

Pull the relay that is in the small black box next to your inlet tube, mounted on the fender.

-Jeff

 

[JB]

Which fuse? Thanks.

fuse 19 (10amp) in the underhood fusebox

 

[HISSMAN]

JB, would it be better to pull the fuse instead of the relay? I have wondered this before. In any case, do not drive the car with the pump running...if you have not already burned it up that is. I honestly wouldn't even drive the car until it is fixed. The IAT2's can get hot enough when you have a working intercooler. Especially in stop and go traffic.

-Jeff

 

[JB]

either way is OK.....

 

[HISSMAN]

That is what I thought. I couldn't an issue from doing it via the relay.

 

[davbrucas]

Thanks for the input guys. I pulled the only 10amp fuse in the underhood fuse box. Will have to recheck if it was #19. As far as driving, I have to drive it to work today and I drove it 60miles yesterday with the pump running dry. I assume it is toast now. I did not get it in boost during that time. I will spend tomorrow looking to see if a hose is cut.

 

[JB]

yep, it's the only 10 amp in there

 

[ShelbyGuy]

buyfordracing.com has the pump on sale for $89

 

[gmynko]

buyfordracing.com has the pump on sale for $89

Good to know

 

[PhillyCobra]

Honestly, the IC pump uses a magnetic drive coupling and is isolated from the coolant itself. I don't think it cares if there's coolant or not, so don't worry about harming it if the coolant is dry.

 

[JedWele]

I doubt if it hurt the engine, the computer will pull timing and richen the fuel mixture when it detected the abnormally high IAT2's , with the exception if maybe you were driving it extremly hard.
But if you have to drive it again for some reason before you fix it, bring your predator and log the IAT2's to be on the safe side.